Guilford sheriff plans Citizen Academy

Sunday

The Guilford County Sheriff's Office is offering a Citizen Academy to Guilford County residents who want to learn more about law enforcement operations and the office’s internal processes.

The goal is to improve law enforcement and community relations. The classes start Feb. 7.

The academy will present a range of subjects condensed from deputies’ standard training curriculum.

“We hope to provide a broad educational experience which will acquaint attending citizens with the mission of sheriff's personnel and the requirements of law to which officers must conform while carrying out their prescribed duties,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

The academy’s goals are:

For citizens to be able to make more informed judgments about the Sheriff's Office and law enforcement activities;For the Sheriff's Office to become more aware of the feelings and concerns of the community, as expressed by attending citizens; andFor citizens and sheriff's representatives to have an opportunity to explore together some of the traditional suspicions and misconceptions generally harbored by both.

“Through open discussion of such suspicions and misconceptions, a more harmonious climate for relationships may be established,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

The academy will meet 6:30–9:30 p.m. Thursdays for two months, plus four Saturday labs. Classes will be at the Sheriff’s Office, 400 W. Washington St., Greensboro, in the Training Classroom. Labs will be held at various locations. Participants must meet attendance requirements.